Mass Layoffs In December 2003 And Annual Averages For 2003 — 2004-01-22

Employers initiated 1,929 mass layoff actions in December 2003, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month, according to data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 192,633. (See table 1.) The number of layoff events and initial claims were sharply lower than a year ago, with both measures at the lowest levels for December since 1999. Fewer mass-layoff initial claims were filed against employers in motion picture and video production, in highway, street, and bridge construction, and in temporary help services in December 2003 compared with December 2002. The total of layoff events for all of 2003 was 18,963 and the total of initial claimants was 1,888,926. The annual totals were lower than in 2002 (20,277 and 2,245,051, respectively).